Higher dose chemotherapy improves survival from breast cancer

Higher dose chemotherapy reduces overall risk of relapse after breast cancer by 22% compared with less aggressive regimens. Similar benefits were seen in older and younger women, results from a meta-analysis show ( JAMA 2005;293:1073-81). The study retrospectively analysed data from four randomised clinical trials of treatments for lymph node positive breast cancer in 1975-99. Each trial compared more aggressive with less aggressive chemotherapy regimens, including a treatment arm using drug doses or schedules that were regarded as being high. A total of 6487 women with lymph node positive breast cancer were included, with 542 …